Paris Fashion Week starts on Monday, marking a significant shift in the fashion industry as new designers are brought in to help boost sales for brands like Chanel and Christian Dior. Retailers, fashion press, models, and celebrities will gather in Paris for nine days of runway shows, showcasing design debuts at major labels. Chanel and Dior are betting on designers who have strong followings from smaller brands, aiming to reignite interest in their collections. HSBC analyst Erwan Rambourg notes a high level of excitement around these changes.
The shows run until October 7, following events in New York, London, and Milan. Chanel, experiencing a 4% sales drop last year, has appointed Matthieu Blazy, a former designer from Bottega Veneta, to lead its design team. He takes over a position that has only been held by Karl Lagerfeld and Virginie Viard since the 1980s. Dior also faces declining sales and has hired Jonathan Anderson from Loewe for a combined menswear and womenswear role. Anderson’s advertising campaign features styles that emphasize feminine tailoring and muted pastels.
The fashion industry is in a slump after the post-pandemic boom, leading to management changes and new creative directions. The sector is contending with shopper fatigue and high prices, which have affected sales, particularly among less affluent customers. Executives aim for new designs to attract shoppers once again. Anderson’s first womenswear show is on October 1, and Blazy’s debut is set for October 6 at the Grand Palais. Other new designs will also be presented by various creatives at different brands.
With information from Reuters
